Electric-lamp socket and connector.



J. G. STEARNS. ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET AND CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1912 1 1 1 5 74 Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES JASON C. STEARNS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET AND connncroia.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 2a, 1912. Serial No. 685,709.

- Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

, Be it known that I, JASON C. STEARNS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Electric-Lamp Socket and Connector, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates tb a socket particu-- larly adapted for electric lamps, and especi-ally-for that type of lamps which are of small size,';known, as the Edi-Swan lamp,

i and used principally on automobiles, but it i's'capable of'being used either in the same or slightly modified forms for other kinds .of lamps and for other electrical purposes I both asa socket and connector.

The principal objects of the invention are to providea much simplified form of socket and connector of such a character that it can be made mainly of a single-tube of sheet metal, with means therein-for holding the connections in a fixed position so as to avoid the necessity of-shoulders to prevent longitudinal and 'latei'a'lmotion of the terminals. Also to provide certain improvements in features of construction as will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be;had' to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1- is a side elevation of an Edi- Swan l'amp socket and connector constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig.

2 is a similar view with parts shown in central sectional view, and Fig. 3 1s a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts of the de vice removed from the tube and shown separately. 4

The lamp socket is shown as particularly adapted for use with an Edi-Swan lamp 10 having the usual metallic armor 11 on the neck thereof and provided with opposite-1oeating pins 12 and also with two metallic terminals 13 located in the same plane and separated by an insulating body on which the armor 11 is placed. For the purpose of holding this lamp a cylindrical metalhccashaving opposite bayonet slots 16 constituting with the pins 12 a bayo net joint for the lamp. Inside the .casing.

15 is located an insulating block 18 formed of hard rubber or any other insulating material and provided with a pair of cylinders 19 extending substantially therethrough, each having a plunger 20 at one end and an opposite plunger 21at the other endheld apart by springs 22 confined in the tube.

For the purpose of holding this block in stituting a means of limiting the longitudinal and transverse motion of the lamp, the

adapted to be locked in'the elongatio '24 of one of the bayonet slots 16. This e engation is so located that it bi'ingsthe terminals 21 into properposition to be engaged by the terminals 13 when the parts arelocked in their several positions, as indicated in Fig. 1. At the opposite end of .the casing 15 it is provided with another insulating plug 30 tending therethrough and adapted to re- These parts 3l..-form metallic contacts at the end of the block 30 for connection with the plungers 20. This block is held in'the end of the casing by a bayonet joint 33, as will be readily understood, in such positions that with the p1ungers-20. 1

v From thisit will be seen that the device is reducedto very simple terms, and particularly is arranged in cylindrical form, so that it can be applied in a bored hole in a wall or the like. The arts are very simple "and the application 0? the plug 30 at one end and the lamp at the other results in PIW viding an absolutely efiicient electrical connection where the spring-pressed plungers come against the'metallic terminal surfaces, and the same springs furnish a means for holding both end pieces by their respective bayonet joints. Yet, this means being yielding, thelamp or plug can be removed very simply by first pressing it in and then" tumof the lamp, another plug similar to 30 can a connector. -The central insulating block tion are particularly important, because they am aware that many modifications can be made therein by any art without departing om the scope of the having a pair of conducting members 31 exceive conductors 32 from any desired pointQ theends of the conductors 31 are in contact 1,8 and the way in which it is held 1n posierson skilled in the.

proper position within the casing and conblock is provided with a headed screw 23 x ing it." It will be observed also-that in place be used which will convert the'device into furnish an extremely simple way of formthe turning or longitudinal mo- Although I have illustrated and described i invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details herein shown and described or to the particular use of the device indicated, but

What I do claim is 1. In an electrical connector or socket, the combination of a casing having slots at its opposite ends, and provided with a longitudinal slot extending from one of said slots toward the center, a screw in said extending slot, a central plug adapted to be held in adjusted positions in the casing by said screw and provided with terminals, and a pair of members extending into the ends of the casing and held by the slots in fixed position and having terminals which when in that position come into engagement with the first named terminals.

2. ltnan electrical connector or socket, the combination of a cylindrical casing having bayonet joint slots at its opposite ends, and provided with a longitudinal slot extending from one of said bayonet slots toward the and having terminals which when in that position come into engagement with the I plungers.

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JASON C. STEARNS.

W'itnesses:

ALBERT E. FAY, C. FORREST WESSON. 

